M1:215 — گرچه دیوار افکند سایهٔ دراز / باز گردد سوی او آن سایه باز؛

Translation: Though a wall casts a long shadow, That shadow will return to it again.

Meaning: This verse conveys that every action a person performs, regardless of how far-reaching its consequences may seem, will ultimately revert to its originator, holding them accountable.

This verse, M1:215, stands as one of the most profound yet simple articulations of the universal law of retribution for deeds, what we might term cosmic karma, within the Masnavi's vast tapestry. Mowlana posits a foundational cosmic principle: every action, every intention, every deed casts a shadow. And though this shadow may stretch far and wide, it can never detach itself from its source; ultimately, it always returns to its origin. This metaphor signifies the inevitable return of the consequences of every action to its perpetrator, just as a shadow is bound to its wall.

This beyt appears strategically after the narrative of the king who cunningly lures the goldsmith to his death with deceitful promises, and the serving girl whose love for the goldsmith was based not on essential truth, but on transient 'color' and superficial appearances. Mowlana employs this simile to deliver his ethical and ontological conclusion to the entire tale. The king's deceptive act, leading to murder, and the serving girl's superficial affection, which faded with the goldsmith's lost beauty, both exemplify the return of the shadow of actions to their owner.

Mowlana elaborates on this principle immediately in the subsequent verse (M1:216) with even greater clarity: 'This world is a mountain, and our deed is a call / The echoes of our calls return to us.' Our action is the 'call' we release into the mountains, and the returning 'sound' is the echo and consequence of our deed that reverts to us. Thus, the wall's shadow and the mountain's echo are parallel metaphors for the certain return of actions' consequences to the agent, whether those actions are good or ill.

From Mowlana's perspective, this rule is not confined to external actions alone but extends to loves built upon 'color'—that is, external beauty, wealth, status, or anything else transient and mutable. As he himself states: 'Loves born of 'color' / Were not love; they ended in disgrace.' This long shadow of transient love ultimately recoils into shame, discord, or cold detachment, because the 'color' upon which it was built inevitably fades, taking the essence of that love with it.

Therefore, this verse serves as both a wise warning and a comforting promise. A warning about the repercussions of wrongful deeds, and a promise of the return of divine grace and generosity to those who do good. No deed is lost in the cosmos, and no shadow remains without its owner. This is a fundamental lesson from Mowlana's wisdom, calling us to full responsibility for all that emanates from us, ultimately guiding us towards love for the 'Living' and 'Everlasting' (God), the only Beloved whose 'shadow' (His presence and grace) is eternal and never returns to nothingness.

Key takeaways

• The universal law of retribution for deeds (karma) is an undeniable reality in the cosmos.
• No action, however far its shadow may stretch, ever detaches from its origin; it always returns to its source.
• Our actions are like calls echoed in a mountain, and their repercussions inevitably return to us.
• Loves founded on superficial 'colors' and transient appearances are unsustainable and ultimately lead to disgrace or emotional detachment.
• This verse serves both as a warning regarding consequences and a promise of divine grace returning to those who act virtuously.